Draft-equalizing doubletree



(No Mod'el.)

J. AUER. DRAFT EQUALIZING DOUBLETREE.

No. 375,690. Patented Dec. 27, 1887.

Witmaaow a l- UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcss JOSEPH AUER, OF DUPONT, OHIO.

DRAFT-EQUALIZING DOUBLETRE E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,690, dated December 2'7, 1887.

Application filed February 21, 1857. Serial No. 228,437, (No model.)

zen of the United States, residing at Dupont,

county of Putnam, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Changeable Doubletree, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in draft-equalizing doubletrees; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims. Y

The object of my invention is to provide a doubletree with devices whereby it is rendered extremely strong and durable, and whereby the singletrees may be shifted to any desired points on the doubletree, to the end that'the load may be distributed to the draft'animals ac cording to their strength.

Figure 1 of thejiccompanying drawings is a plan view of a doubletree provided with draft-equalizing devices embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the metallic truss or rod removed from the rear side of the doubletree; and Fig. 3 isv aperspective view of the metallic strap removed from the end of the doubletree.

1 represents the doubletree, which is made of wood, and is of suitable size and shape. To the center of the doubletree is attached a clip, 10, having an eye on its rear end, with which engages a ring, 9, whereby the double tree may be attached to a plow-clevis or to a log-chain. A metallic strap, 11, is secured to the front side of the donbletree and has a series of scallops or notches adapted to be engaged by a bolt to secure the doubletree to the tongue of a vehicle. At a suitable distance from the ends of the doubletree are clips 6, having eyes on their rear sides.

2 represents a metallic truss rod or strap, which is arranged longitudinally on the rear side of the doubletree, is passed through the eyes on the rear ends of clips 10 and 6, and has its extremities bent on the ends of the doubletree and secured thereto by screws or rivets or other suitable means.

3 represents clips, which are arranged on the ends of the donbletree and are movable thereon. On opposite sides of the outer ends of the doubletree are secured metallic straps 7, over which the clips 3 are slipped, and the said straps have their outer ends turned outward at right-angles and caused to engage the outer sides of the clips, so as to preventthe latter from slipping off the ends of the double tree. The said clips 3 are provided with holes 8, adapted to register with similar openings in the straps 7, successively, when the clips are moved in or out on the ends of the doubletree;' .and 5 represents pins secured to the donbletree by means of chains and adapted to be inserted in the aligned openings in the clips 3 and straps 7, so as to secure the clips at any desired adjustment on the doubletree, and thereby apportion the work to the horses according to their strength, as will be readily understood.

On the front sides of the clips 3 are formed eyes, to which are connected links 12. At the outer ends of said links are centrally pivoted cross-bars at, which are adapted to be turned into the links and then slipped through the rings of the singletrees (not shown) and then turned at rightangles to the links and caused to extend across the rings of the singletrees, so as to connect the latter firmly to the doubletree.

A donbletree thus provided is extremely strong and durable, is readily shifted so as to equalize the draft on the horses, and is adapted for the ready attachment and detachment of the singletrees.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the doubletrce, the straps 7 on'the ends thereof, and the adjust able clip 3, slipped on the ends of the doubletree over the straps, the outer ends of said straps being bent outward to prevent the clips from slipping off the ends of the doubletree, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the doubletree, the clips 3, adjustable on the ends thereof and having the openings, the straps 7, secured on the ends of the doubletree and over which the clips are passed, said straps having their ends bent outward to prevent the clips from slipping off, and having the openings 8, with which the openings in the clips are adapted to register, and the pins 5, adapted to be inserted in the openings in the clips and straps, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the doubletree, the

clip 10, secured to the center of the same and tree, and the clips 3, slipped over the ends of having the eye on its rear side, the clips 6, sethe doubletree and of the truss-rod, substancured to the doubletree at suitable distances tiaily as described. from the ends thereof and having the eyes on their rear sides, the truss rod or strap passed Witnesses:

G. O. WVEIBLE, JEREMIAH ANDREWs.

JOSEPH AUER.

through the eyes of clips 10 and 6 and having its ends secured to the ends of the double- 

